During the meeting the President of Kazakhstan and the Prime Minister of Japan discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, among which are political cooperation, trade and economic and cultural-humanitarian relations.
- Japan makes one of the first countries in the world, actively supporting our independence and lending support for all these 25 years. The development of the friendly partnership relations with your country has been on top of Kazakhstan’s agenda. Today we have discussed a wide range of questions, upon which we will collaborate in the future, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The Head of State noted that the adopted joint statement specifies the strategic ways of bilateral relations development.
- We have agreed on continuing the active political dialogue, cultivating contacts at all levels, contributing to security enforcement in the region in every way, facilitating trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian ties, and working collectively against challenges in the modern world, the President of Kazakhstan said.
The Head of State underscored that our country is interested in deepening the all-round partnership with Japan, having all potential for that. In such a case, bilateral trade and economic cooperation is the driving force.
- Kazakhstan is the largest trade and economic partner of Japan in Central Asia. The volume of mutual trade turnover in 2015 amounted to half a billion dollars so far. This is not the level that corresponds to our potential, and we will steadily expand the horizons of cooperation, including in the field of high technologies, agriculture, nuclear power, automotive and steel industry, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The additional platform for more intensive cooperation in exploration of rare earth metals, nuclear power industry, banking sector, chemical industry, agriculture and transport is the sixth meeting of the Joint Commission of Kazakhstan and Japan’s governmental and private sectors on economic cooperation with the involvement of business circles of two countries in Tokyo.
In addition, the President of Kazakhstan noted that the issues of expanding humanitarian ties were under consideration during the talks.
- At present, Japan is one of the main participants of the process of forming the adequate architecture of international relations, in Central Asia inclusive. We both are nonentity members of the UN Security Council and agreed that our collaborative work will be devoted to the struggle for a nuclear-free world. It is a task for all mankind, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The Prime Minister of Japan, in turn, said that he welcomed the visit of the Head of State on the eve of the 25th anniversary of establishing the diplomatic relations between our two countries, and further strengthening of which is very important for Tokyo.
- I am encouraged that we have signed a joint Sino-Kazakh statement, focused on further developing the strategic partnership between our nations. This document will become a landmark for our further cooperation, which includes the issues that Japan place great store on, namely improvement of the investment environment in Kazakhstan, fostering activities of the Japanese companies in the Kazakh territory, maritime safety, the problem of North Korea, and others, Shinzo Abe said.
The Japanese Prime Minister stressed that stability in the region of Central Asia is very important to the international community.
- During today's meeting we have had a frank exchange of views, including on Central Asia as a whole. Next year Kazakhstan takes a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council as well, and at today's talks we have held a fruitful discussion on international issues, Shinzo Abe said.
In addition, the Japanese leader emphasized, our countries are working extensively as co-chairmen of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
- I have an intention, hand in hand with President Nazarbayev, to further work for the active development of relations between Japan and Kazakhstan, Shinzo Abe said.
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Within the framework of the official visit of the Head of State the following documents were signed in Japan:
- Joint Statement of Kazakhstan and Japan "On special strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Japan in the age of Asia’s prosperity";
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Investment and Development Ministry of Kazakhstan and the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry of Japan;
- Agreement on Japan’s participation in EXPO 2017 between "NC "Astana EXPO-2017" JSC and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO);
- Memorandum of Cooperation between "Astana" International Financial Centre and Japan Securities Dealers Association;
They have also exchanged notes on the exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports of Kazakhstan and Japan citizens from January 1, 2017.
